GOOD TV

[Tripps]

There's a drama on Ch 5 at the moment - and it's comprehensible. Jason Watkins and Robson Green.

[Stanley]

Morning David.... That's high praise for TV drama these days..... What is it?

[PanBiker]

"The Game", definitely holds the attention.

[Tripps]

That's high praise for TV drama these days..... What is it?

As Ian says it's "The Game". I think the next episode is tonight? It's a sequel to another series, whiose name I've forgotten - but they have recast the female detective and not quite got it right I'd say. At least I uinderstood what was going on which is increasingly rare these days.

I must confess though - I channel hopped on to TPTV and watched The Last Holiday with Alec Guiness and screenplay by JB Priestly. Lampington's Disease. The opening scene in a Doctor's waitng room is a timely reminder of what the system for appointments used to be like.

[Stanley]

There's a programme maker called Hydraulic Hands on Youtube and I like watching it because it is an Indian factory using 100 year old English machines, many from Keighley and Halifax. It makes you wonder how long they will last......

[Big Kev]

If you have Netflix I would highly recommend Dept Q.

Overview
Carl, a former top-rated detective, is wracked with guilt following an attack that left his partner paralysed and another policeman dead. On his return to work, Carl is assigned to a cold case that will consume his life.

[Stanley]

I go mainly where Youtube takes me, of late it has been to factories in the UAE.
One thing that does strike me is the number of quite obviously fake 'shorts' that purport to be shock reports from the royal family, often denigrating Camilla.

[Tripps]

I watched bits of the England - Senegal match tonight - following their trouncing of the mighty Andorra 1-0 on Saturday.
It didn't go well - and the Three Lions lost, quite comfortably, by three goals to one.

The modern thing to do in such circumstances is to find some "positives" to take away.
1, It was only a friendly.
2. No one called Trippier had anything to do with either match. Phew. . . .

[Stanley]

Did I hear the England captain or coach saying that it was a mistake to assume that England would always win against a small nation?

[Tripps]

Watching Wheeltappers and Shunters on Talking Pictures TV.

Following the best/only lady novelty foot juggler I've ever seen - we now have the Irish tenor Joseph Locke.

Colin Crompton (Concert Secretary) said "would you like your money in cash, or should we send it direct to the Inland Revenue?

Quality stuff. . . .

An inveterate gambler and tax avoider, Locke had to flee the UK when the Inland Revenue issued a warrant for his arrest for non-payment of taxes. Thereafter, Locke lived in County Kildare, Ireland. He died on October 15 1999 and was survived by his wife, Carmel, and a son

[Stanley]

Ahh, Joseph Locke.... Part of the rich musical territory of my youth!
I wonder how many people realise that Wheel tappers and shunters were genuine tasks on the railway.....

[Stanley]

Not TV but radio....., There is a programme on World Service called 'Unexpected Elements' The programme takes a simple subject and pursues it, this morning it was sharks.... It is a splendid programme, well worth seeking out on BBC Sounds. I recommend it to you.

[Stanley]

I have finished reviewing the Repair Shop programmes and at the moment I'm watching all three of the Godfather films. Godfather III tonight!

[Tripps]

They've moved (or added) Wheeltappers and Shunters on TPTV, from Sunday night to tonight - without consulting me at all. Consequently I've just surfed into it half way through, and missed Bill Haley and the Comets, and The Krankies.

That's a shame. . . .Bill Haley was the guy who changed it all in about 1956 - from The BBC Light Orchestra to full blown Rock and Roll.

[PanBiker]

I took Sally to see Bill Hayley and the Comets live at the Imperial Ballroom in Nelson when we were courting.

[Stanley]

I seem to remember a riot at a Burnley cinema connected with Bill Haley......
Am watching Stieg Larrson's Millennium Trilogy.....

[Stanley]

I watched the second half of the Millennium Trilogy. I still enjoy it.......

[Gloria]

Fred Dibnah at 7pm on bbc4 has been a good watch. Seen it for last couple of weeks, mon, tues and wed, may have been on longer but that’s all we’ve seen.

[Stanley]

I quite enjoy his programmes but he fell out with me when I didn't give him the job of repointing Ellenroad chimney after Peter Tatham retired.....

[Big Kev]

Harlan Coben's Lazarus on Amazon Prime, a very good adaptation of the book.

[Whyperion]

BBC Strictly Come Dancing with Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly as presenters. Claudia and Tess have announced their retirement after the Christmas Special/s from the show. Mutterings in the Metro free paper that perhaps the BBC should retire the show while at a reasonable high at the top of its run as a consequence. I suppose Ant and Dec could host it. Otherwise difficult , it ties in a bit with money on the phone in line going to BBC Children In Need and what kind of Autumn evening variety show on a Saturday Night could replace it ? At present the dire Michael MacIntyre gets re-runs of "The Big Show" which I find boring and tedious. Is it too late to bring back something like "Summertime Special" but from the remaining variety theatres (some at risk still) across the UK or is something more for the C21st ideas welcome

Meanwhile upcoming Guy Martin on Channel 4 to take part in Railway 200 at Stockton , which has happened, showing working on Locomotion (the No 1 was a later appellation) and indeed possibly not quite the same steam operated railway locomotive as first left Timothy Hackworth's works. Rather sloppily billed as "The First Commercial Steam Train" , it wasnt (well strictly the first public railway to offer haulage by steam powered locomotive ) , as Trevithicks novelty of Catch Me Who Can charged 1d a ride in more of a fairground display , then other steam locomotives from William Headly (Steam Elephant and Puffing Billy) for the Newcastle area coal mine owners on private land then Blenkinsop's designs put into flesh so to speak by Matthew Murray's Round Foundry at Leeds for the first railway by act of parliament to provide haulage by steam locomotive for its owners. That design sold about 5 to 7 in Leeds and again to Newcastle area collieries I think there was also talk of export but in the end copies were built in France. Wonder if that will be covered. (Matthew Murray had a number of patents mainly for improving wool spinning and weaving machinery that was the mainstay of the busness of Fenton , Murrary and Wood.

[Tripps]

Because it's been mentioned all day on many radio stations, I watched the final episode of Traitors.
I didn't really understand it at all, and I'm glad I didn't start watching it when there were nineteen contestants.
Still - I fairly enjoyed it as it was very well made. Surely the eliminated Paloma Faith is related to Adam Faith?

I won't be back though.

[Tripps]

That post resulted in a personal message from Whyperion at silly o'clock, I don't think he will mind me showing it as it's interesting and not personal.

Iam not sure where she got the name from , but not a blood relative of the first degree from Adam Faith (and that wasnt his real name either Terence Nelhams Wright )
I sort of unfortunately worked with her father - at a time when he was divorced from her mother. Ramon (a anglo spanish ( possibly jewish though thats not really relevant in london) somewhat full of himself by the age he arrived as a managing director , good (workwise) in parts, less so in others. He was in in art managment and did wangle some funding from Gluckstein? foundation among other things.
She has done enough self promotion over the years (desert island discs) talking about her slightly unconventional London upbringing between the pair (I think her mother was US person but dont quote me on that) Think trendy Islington in the 1980s and you would be about there.

Actually - and spookily - I saw a Youtube clip recently in which Michael Caine said his mum's boss, when a char lady, was Adam Faith's mum, and he gave her name as Mrs Nelhams. Caine's name of course was Micklewhite.

Treat this with caution but - I seem to recall that Adam Faith's last words - in a hotel somewhere whilst watching TV were said to have been "It's crap this Channel Five. . . . ."

PS I've google it now, and words to that effect are widely quoted, however AI says they are not recorded. Take your pick

[Stanley]

I've read all those posts.... I don't think my life will be changing.... Best watch I have had lately has been a rerun of Stiegg Larrsson's Millennium Project....

[Big Kev]

The Eurythmics on the iPlayer, I do like a bit of Annie Lennox. A great singer.